I don’t mean the run-of-the-mill, daily kind of craving where you’re just sort of in the mood for some chips or you think that some cheese would taste good right about now.

Rather, I mean the completely out of the blue, laser-focused urge that hits you like a slap from Goliath leaving you panting and gasping for sustenance.  The kind of craving that usually originates from a systemic overload of output and imbalance of input – diet deprivation.  Not dieting per se, but just something that you do not eat often and could fill a nutritional need once in awhile.

So it was tonight in my yoga class that I was inspired by Federico’s.  Barely 10 minutes remained in class and I was more dehydrated and depleted than usual.  My feet were cramping and I wasn’t feeling particularly hungry, but WHAMMO and all I could think about was a big fat stuffed tortilla in my grubby paws.  The last time I have had a burrito – not just taking bites but really inhaling a burrito from start to finish – must have been at least 2 years.  But just the same I was struck by how good an idea it sounded. 

I decided that if I still felt that way as I approached the Juan Tabo exit, I’d go for it.  The next 30 minutes I started playing together the combinations in my head, trying to figure out which ingredients would hit the spot and put me in a happy zone.  Eggs?  Hell yeah.  Something rich?  Mmm, yes.  And something fresh…. I have it!

Ultimately, I invented a breakfast burrito and damn if it isn’t amazing.  This is it:  eggs, guacamole, pico de gallo.  All swaddled in that ginormous indescructable yet still tender tortilla, I did yet another completely bizarre thing for me – I ate IN THE CAR.

This is what food can be.  Sustaining, timely, happy-making.  If its another few years before I have the same craving, fine.  Maybe next time it will be something different.  But tonight it had to be that glorious burrito and it HAD to be eaten immediately, fear of drippage tossed aside into the night air.

Federico’s Mexican (open 24 hours – a rarity around here!)

“The Tenacious Burrito”, as listed on the receipt: 

1 Bean burrito, minus beans, plus huevos, plus guac, plus pico.  $4.19 and well worth it.